if you don’t look at it, it’s like it doesn’t exist.”
She ushers us into the apartment, and we follow her into the kitchen.
It’s weird. I’ve been in this same room many times over the years, but somehow, now, it feels different.
It could be because I’m with Nolan and River is with Dean and Caroline is with Cooper. It feels all…couple-y, even though Nolan and I aren’t a couple.
We just can’t stop making out.
“Whiskey or wine?” River holds up a bottle of each.
“Whiskey,” I say, craving the burn of the alcohol to take my mind off things.
She pours me two fingers’ worth of bourbon, then adds another for good measure.
Bless her.
“So, uh, what’s up with the mustache?” I ask her when Dean’s out of earshot.
“It’s ridiculous, isn’t it?” Her tone says she’s annoyed, but her eyes say something entirely different. “He said he wanted to try something new. I bet he shaves it off by tomorrow night. His students are going to go nuts over it.”
“It’s…something.”
“Does it feel good?” Caroline asks, sliding up next to us.
“You mean”—River bounces her eyebrows up and down—“good?”
Caroline and I both nod, and River bites her lip.
“Soooo good,” she purrs.
I clench my thighs together, remembering how good Nolan’s two-day-old scruff felt against my breasts as he lapped at them. I can only imagine how good it’d feel between my legs.
I slide my eyes his way, and I’m surprised when I find he’s staring right at me, like he can read all the dirty thoughts slipping through my mind right now.
I want him.
Like, really want him.
These last few days have been torture trying to act like what happened between us didn’t affect me, but in truth, I’m bursting at the seams to do it again.
Which is a bad idea, but I’m starting to see the appeal of Caroline’s suggestion.
Our living situation is only temporary. If we go into it with clear intentions, we’ll be fine. We’re nothing like River and Dean, who had feelings involved way before they slept together, so we’re not risking anything.
We’re adults, and we both clearly need the release.
We could totally make it out alive with no awkwardness. I’m certain of it.
I give my attention back to River and Caroline, who are discussing the joys of dating men who have a little scruff.
“What about you?” River asks. “Did you ever have that with Patrick?”
I want to laugh.
No, I never had that with him. Not just because he always kept his face clean-shaven, but because Patrick only went down on me once—and he didn’t go anywhere near where he should have.
“Can’t say I have.”
“You are missing out. Better make sure the next guy you decide to bone comes with a little scruff.” River bumps her shoulder into mine. “Or a womb broom.”
All three of us burst into laughter, causing the guys, who are planted on the couch arguing about something, to look our way.
As if he knows what we were talking about, Nolan runs his hand over his five o’clock shadow, and I find myself squeezing my thighs together for the second time tonight.
I have no idea how I’m going to survive this evening.
“Do you want to rip his clothes off or what, Maya?” Caroline asks.
“Huh?” Heat floods my cheeks as I worry I’ve been caught ogling my roommate.
“Henry Cavill.” She holds her phone up. “He posted this on Instagram a few minutes ago.”
When River and I give her a look for knowing about it so soon, she shrugs.
“What? I have notifications turned on. Ain’t no way I’m missing this.”
We spend the next twenty minutes scrolling through Henry’s feed, perving on his photos.
Usually, I’d be over the moon to drool over pictures of the hot-as-hell English actor.
But it’s hard to get excited when the person I want most right now is sitting on the other side of the room.
At eleven thirty, we’re stumbling out of River and Dean’s apartment, full of food, good times, and a little too much whiskey.
Nolan presses the button for the elevator, then grins down at me. “Your best friend is a hoot.”
“I could say the same thing about yours, but that mustache is…” I groan. “God, I hope he shaves it off soon.”
“Hideous, isn’t it?”
I nod. “I didn’t want to tell River my roommate is much hotter than hers, but I think she knew.”
His brows rise, and the words that just left my mouth finally hit my ears.
Luckily, he doesn’t say anything as our elevator arrives. We step into the small space, and Nolan takes up the same position